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Hummingbird antics provide entertainment when the buzzing birds feast on your garden's nectar. Many plants earn preferred spots on hummingbird menus, but two vines create such a riot they've earned the common name hummingbird vine. Whether or not winter will put an end to these hummingbird magnets depends on which vine you plant. Even so, you can still have blooms next season from either one.

The Choice Is Yours

The two dueling hummingbird vines have several similarities, most notably their bright, trumpet-shaped blossoms. The flowers seem perfectly designed to accommodate hummingbird beaks. But when it comes to their lifespan, the plants couldn't be more different. One is an annual, and one a perennial. Also known as cypress vine or cardinal climber, the annual hummingbird vine (Ipomea quamoclit) flowers, sets seed and dies each year. The perennial hummingbird vine (Campsis radicans), also known as trumpet vine or trumpet creeper, withstands winters in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10.

Annual Hummingbird Vine

Just because annual hummingbird vine starts new each year, don't think you'll be lacking blossoms. This Central American native grows quickly from seed, flowering in as few as 45 days. A mass of 1 1/2-inch, cardinal-red trumpets blankets the fine, feathery foliage from midspring until the end comes in late fall. Given full sun and moist, well-draining soil, the vine races to 20 feet or more in a single season. Keep wayward runners in line because they'll take over any support they find. Cypress vine distributes copious seed, ensuring hummingbirds and butterflies enjoy the annual blooms regardless of winter's wrath.

Perennial Hummingbird Vine

Winter doesn't faze perennial hummingbird vine, even when temperatures drop. The vine spreads aggressively through underground roots, and bounces back easily from cold damage. With twining vines teamed with clinging aerial rootlets, the vine climbs to 40 feet or more. Clusters of scarlet-orange, 3-inch trumpets draw hummingbirds from summer through fall. This native plant can be invasive in some parts of the country. Take advantage of winter to seize control and prune the vine. Use sharp pruning shears, wear protective eyewear and sterilize your blades with rubbing alcohol before and after each vine to prevent the spread of disease.

Bloom Boosters

Flowers on both hummingbird vines produce abundant nectar that hummingbirds find hard to resist. Full sun enhances flowering and nectar production. To push cypress vine blossoms to their max, fertilize in spring with a water-soluble, high-phosphorus fertilizer. A 15-30-15 product mixed at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 gallon of water boosts blooms. The rampant trumpet vine needs no encouragement. Avoid using high-nitrogen products near either vine. Nitrogen fuels green growth at flowers' expense. Note that both plants can be toxic if ingested, and skin reactions can occur from trumpet vine contact.

About the Author

Jolene Hansen is a lifelong gardening enthusiast and former horticulture professional. She is passionate about reshaping the way people experience gardens and gardening. Hansen's work appears regularly in consumer and trade publications, as well as numerous internet gardening and lifestyle channels.